Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical and Health Professions Program
We Prepare You to Stand Out
Not every student knows his/her professional goals when entering college. Others may start and even enter a profession after graduation from college and find that it is not the right "fit" for them. If this description resonates with you and you have made the decision to pursue a career in medicine, then Duquesne's Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical and Health Professions Program (PB-PMHPP) is here to help you meet those goals.
The Duquesne University PB-PMHPP is an individualized, multi-track program that prepares you to meet the academic requirements, gain greater success on the entrance examinations and have greater success with the application processes needed for admission to the medical, dental, or other health professional graduate programs of your choice. This is not your typical "gap" or "glide year" program. We do not require you to pursue a pre-prescribed academic curriculum like many other post-baccalaureate programs, but rather we will work with you to design an individualized curricular plan tailored to meet your specific needs and goals.
What we offer:
- Comprehensive advisement
- Application preparation and assistance
- Rigorous science coursework
- Unique PB-PMHPP courses designed exclusively to meet the specific needs of post-baccalaureate students pursuing both career-changer and enhancement tracks
The PB-PMHPP course work is unique to Duquesne University and is not offered in such a comprehensive manner anywhere else.
How We Help You:
- Our advisors work alonsige you to help you get the necessary pre-requisite coursework to enhance your academic record
- Help you become better prepared to acheive higher scores on required entrance exams (eg MCAT, DAT, OAT)
The PB-PMHPP features:
- Individualized academic plans
- Individualized and comprehensive advisement
- Assistance with application process for up to 3 years after program completion
- Specialized PMHPP course work with "0" additional credit load
Program Information
An individualized post-baccalaurate certificate program to enhance or gain the knowledge needed to apply to medical and health professional schools.
Degree
Certificate
Admission Information
- Hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
- Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; relevant post-baccalaureate coursework also will be considered.
- Have a minimum 2.75 Math/Science GPA for all relevant math/science coursework, and this includes ALL attempts, taken from all institutions attended
- Submit final transcripts that demonstrate no final D or F grades, with no more than one repeat of courses in which D or F grades were earned.
- Have chosen a specific medical or health discipline to pursue
- Have demonstrated knowledge and experiences in the area of interest (eg, shadowing, volunteer, observation experiences)
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States
Special consideration will be given to students who have not taken the professional school admission test (eg, MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE); however, if an applicant has taken one of those the examinations before applying to the PB-PMHPP, they must share those results with the PMHPP and should not retake the examination until the PB-PMHP program is completed.
- Complete applications received before April 1st will be given priority for review and consideration; all supplemental materials must be received for an application to be considered "complete".
- Our deadline has been extended to June 1st for completed applications. While applications may continue to be accepted after June 1st at the discretion of the PMHPP, we cannot guarantee course availability after this date.
- A career changer applicant who has intentions of starting classes in the summer should apply to the PB-PMHPP no later than February 1.
- If you are interested in the combined PMHPP Certificate-Masters option, you must gain acceptance into the PB-PMHPP BEFORE the application materials will be considered for the desired masters degree program
- A Certificate-Masters applicant should NOT apply for his/her intended masters degree program through the University on-line graduate application unless instructed to do so from the PMHPP. The PMHPP will forward all supplemental application materials to your chosen program once acceptance into the PB-PMHPP is determined. An applicant applying to one of the masters programs is subject to that specific program's standards, deadlines, and space availability; admission to a masters program is not guaranteed even if a student is accepted into the PB-PMHPP.
The PB-PMHPP will not review an application that is not "complete". Incomplete applications or those received after the deadline will NOT be reviewed and will be automatically rejected by the program. It is the applicant's responsibility to be aware of all deadlines, and requirements.
The on-line application AND all supportive documents must be received by June 1st. We cannot guarantee course availability after this date.
- No grade lower than a "C" in any course. A student may repeat a course once to achieve passing grade
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
- Minimum semester GPA of 3.0; A student may fall below this semester GPA only once, but may not fall below this standard in any subsequent semesters
- Minimum semester and overall math/science and science GPAs 3.0; A student may fall below the math/science and science GPA only once, but may not fall below this standard in any subsequent semesters
- Must be in good standing with the University and, if enrolled in a master's degree program, within his/her respective degree program
The PB-PMHPP is an university program in the Academic Affairs Division at Duquesne University. The cost of the Post-Baccalaureate program for the 2022-2023 Academic Year is $1421.00 per credit for tuition. If a student also enrolls in a masters level course of study, they may be charged the tuition differential for the masters program should that program rate be higher.
Eligiblity for educational loans is determined by each student's individual financial aid profile.
- Students who choose to pursue master's level study are eligible to be considered for graduate financial aid.
- Students pursuing the Post-Baccalaureate certificate (only) are eligible to be considered for undergraduate aid depending upon their usage of funds for their bachelor degrees.
- Non-certificate applicants are not eligible for federal aid at any level.
Students are strongly encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office for further information regarding Federal Stafford loans and financial aid questions at 412-396-6607.
Advising & Support
While rigorous and challenging, the PB-PMHPP provides a supportive and positive envirnment for its students at Duquesne University. This is a small and intimate program, with approximately 7-10 students/cohort and a total PB-PMHPP enrollment/year varying annually between 15-25 students. In addition to getting to know classmates well, the PB-PMHPP students often develop very close relationships with the PMHPP staff and faculty. These positive relationships not only facilitate the quality of individualized advisement, personalized curricular planning, counseling, and student support, but also assist the PMHPP in helping each student find his or her "best fit" for graduate medical and health professional education.
The PB-PMHPP advisors assist students in identifying strengths and weaknesses in their professional preparation and experiences and provide guidance and evidence-based recommendations to help them identify and secure appropriate opportunities to improve their professional portfolios. PB-PMHPP students are expected to be actively engaged in their own development and preparation, and it is the students' responsibility to identify the professional schools they hope to apply to and become knowledgeable of the unique requirements of those schools. This information is shared with the PB-PMHPP advisors, so that they may better assist the students in their preparations and application/admission processes.
Only students enrolled in the PB-PMHPP Certificate Program will receive this enhanced advisement and support including, but not limited to professional school application preparation and admission assistance for up to 3 years following completion of the program. Certificate students applying to medical and dental schools who meet the Duquesne eligibility requirements will be granted a Duquesne University endorsement/committee letter. Non-Certificate PB-PMHPP students will be assisted with the application submission process, but will not be eligible for the Duquesne University endorsement/committee letter nor services beyond the time of enrollment in the PB-PMHPP.
Linkage Agreements
The Duquesne University-Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) Preferred Admission Program allows interested Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical & Health Professions (PB-PMHPP) students who intend to apply to PCOM as their top choice for osteopathic medical school to be positioned for preferential Admission Reviews for acceptance into that medical school. Interested PB-PMHPP students must inform the PMHPP of their interest and intent to be considered for this program no later than October 1st of the year that they submit their AACOMAS applications. PCOM then will be notified of all interested PB students and move those students' applications into consideration for priority review. A minimum of three seats are held each year in the PCOM osteopathic medical school class for qualified Duquesne PB-PMHPP students; however, if more seats become available, additional qualified candidates may be considered. PCOM determines whether the Duquesne PB applicants will be accepted into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Program after both primary and secondary applications are reviewed; the applicants have positive interviews and are accepted by PCOM's Faculty Committee on Admissions.
The Faculty Committee on Admissions at PCOM will consider applicants who meet the following criteria. An applicant must have:
- Completed all pre-requisite coursework as defined in the PCOM catalog;
- Earned a >3.5 Cumulative GPA and >3.5 overall science GPA (on the 4.0 grading system) while enrolled in the PB-PMHPP;
- Earned a total >3.0 Overall Math/Science GPA (UG + PB coursework);
- Earned a minimum composite score of 504 on the MCAT with a minimum score of 126 on each section of the MCAT;
- Be a US Citizen or hold Permanent Resident status (green card);
- Complete the PCOM Secondary Application and pay all appropriate fees;
- Submit at least three letters of recommendation to the PMHPP Office to be included in the applicant's letter packet; and
- Be eligible for and receive a Duquesne PMHPP Endorsement letter.
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine* located in St. Kitts reserves 3 seats (up to 30 days before the start of each cycle) for each application start (September, January and May) for Duquesne University students enrolled in the PMHPP (Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate). Total time in St. Kitts is 3 years and 4 months. Students then return to either one of the 22 US clinical affiliates or 5 international clinical affiliates to complete their training.
Minimum Application Requirements
- Overall GPA of at least a 3.2
- Minimum 3.0 in all RUSVM pre-requisite courses
- No F, D or D- grade in any RUSVM pre-requisite course
- A score in the 25th percentile or better in each category of the GRE
- Other minimum admissions requirements required of all other RUSVM students
Students are required to have all pre-requisite courses done (with the exception of one that could still be in progress) at the time of application.
For Post-Baccalaureate students, undergraduate grades will count towards the overall and science calculations. Students have the option to apply either via VMCAS or directly through the Ross website, but VMCAS GPA calculation rules will still apply. Students are required to obtain a letter of endorsement from the PMHPP to be included with their Ross application. Applicants interested in this program must still meet the minimum admission standards for the PB-PMHPP Certificate.
"Perks" for RUSVM Linkage Agreement
- RUSVM will allow students to apply to other schools during the same application cycle. This is not an exclusive linkage.
- RUSVM will give waive application fees for eligible individuals who apply, except where prohibited by law.
- RUSVM will also give priority consideration for available scholarships to eligible individuals admitted to RUSVM who qualify.
*Admission requirements are subject to change at the discretion of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine or the Philadelphia College of Medicine, and are outside the control of the Pre-Medical and Health Professions Programs. These are competitive programs, and an interview and/or acceptance cannot be guaranteed by Duquesne University. Final acceptance is at the sole discretion of the medical program.
PB-PMHPP Application Steps
PB-PMHPP Application
Complete the on-line graduate application. Please choose graduate from the drop-down menu with the area of study as Post-Bacc Pre-Med.
**Weekend Pharmacy or Second Degree Nursing applicants should NOT fill out the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical and Health Professions application. Please apply to those programs specifically.
Submitting Supplemental Materials
After hitting submit, the application checklist will appear with supplemental items that will need to be sent to the PB-PMHPP office in order to complete your application. Some materials may be uploaded on-line directly by you, while others need to be official documents. Please see an explanation as to what is needed below:
Items that may be uploaded by the applicant include:
- Completed Math/Science GPA worksheet. Note: all post-secondary math and science (biology, chemistry and physics) course work must be included; if a course was taken more than once, ALL attempts should be included in the calculation.
- A personal statement, maximum one page in length, (single-spaced, 12pt. font), describing your professional goals, why you want to study that discipline, what you have done to prepare for that discipline and what you hope to gain from the Pre-Medical and Health Professions Post-Baccalaureate Program specifically. (You should not be using a general personal statement that you have used for other applications.) Note: If also planning to apply to one of our dual masters programs, you may need to include a separate, brief statement as to why you wish to pursue that degree path.
- A CV or resume that includes all of your volunteer, research, shadowing, employment and/or other pre-application experiences that support your intent to pursue medical or health professional programs (eg. medical scribe, dental observations). Please provide information about those experiences that includes a description of the experience, time interval, total hours, and summary of activities/responsiblities.
- Copies of any previously submitted professional school applications (e.g. AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, etc.) made to medical or health professional schools
Items that MUST be sent from official source:
- Official transcripts sent directly from ALL post-secondary institutions where you earned credit. These should be sent electronically (preferred) from the post-secondary institution to pmhppFREEDUQUESNE or we also accept official transcripts via US Mail. Please do not send transcripts to the Admissions office.
- Two letters of recommendation that speak to your academic ability, social skills, qualifications
for your intended profession, and other professional attributes. These letters should
be written with the specific intent to attend the PB-PMHPP. Letters may be sent one
of two ways:
- Via email by including your recommender's contact information on the application in which they will be sent further instructions on how to send the letter electronically.
- Via US mail by giving them the printed instructions included in the application. These letters should be in sealed envelopes with the recommender's signature written across the back.
- We do not encourage nor require you to take graduate admissions tests, however, if you have already done so, please submit official score reports of all graduate tests taken. (e.g. MCAT, DAT, GRE, or OAT) You must submit copies of all official score reports. Failure to report your attempts and scores could result in your dismissal from the program, if admitted.
Any items being mailed may be sent to:
Duquesne University Pre-Medical and Health Professions Programs
600 Forbes Avenue
700 Fisher Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
The PB-PMHPP application deadline has been extended to June 1st; the application and supplemental materials must be submitted by this deadline.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, but no later than June 1st. While the PMHPP may accept applications after this date at their discretion, course availability cannot be guaranteed.
New cohorts begin each fall only. A career changer student may request to begin a pre-requisite course sequence over the summer in order to expediate his/her timeline, depending on timing and availability.
Note: Career Changer applicants are encouraged to apply before February 1, if, upon acceptance, they plan to begin classes during the summer of the application year.
Please note that if any false, misleading or non-factual information submitted as part of the application and/or enrollment process is discovered it will be cause for immediate rescindment of an interview or acceptance.
Frequesntly Asked Questions
Recent Placements
The average class size for the Post-Baccalaureate PMHPP (PB-PMHPP) over the past five years is approximately seven students/year, with approximately half of those students seeking the post-baccalaureate certificate as enhancement students. The total number of schools that the PB-PMHPP students have been accepted to also has been small but within or above the national placement rates. Below are the names of the universities to which our PB-PMHPP students have been accepted between 2016-2022.
Dental School Acceptances
Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine, Temple University, University of Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh, Western University of Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut, University of Maryland, Rutgers University, AT Still University, Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical School Acceptances
Allopathic Medicine (MD): Geisinger/Commonwealth SOM, Penn State University, Ross University, St. George University,
Temple University, University of Maryland, University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia
University, Howard University, Rutgers University, University of South Carolina, Virginia
Commonwealth University, Uniformed Services University, Marshall University SOM
Osteopathic Medicine (DO): Campbell University, Lake Erie COM (all campuses), Philadelphia COM, Touro College (California), University of New England COM, Virginia COM, West Virginia COM, University of Idaho COM
Physician Assistant School Acceptances
University of Dayton, Lock Haven University, University of Charleston
Physical Therapy School of Acceptances
Duquesne University